As Brits, we are creatures of habit: orderly queues, cups of tea at 4pm and an obsession with commenting on the state of the weather.It turns out, our habits extend to the questions we ask ahead of the summer holidays – research has shown the same 10 questions come up every year.AttractionTickets.com analysed travel-related Google search trends between 1 June and 31 August across 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to identify the travel questions and concerns that consistently surge during peak holiday planning season.The data shows practical travel worries are still dominating, with passport validity, Spain??entry rules, travel insurance and packing questions appearing repeatedly across the five-year dataset.??If any of these apply to you, there’s no need to fret.Here, the Daily Mail Travel Team has shared the answers to??the top 10 questions – so hopefully this will be the last year you’ll have to ask…1.??How long do I need on my passport to travel to Spain? Brits constantly have passport queries, ahead of all summer travelUnder post-Brexit travel rules, UK passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry into most EU countries, regardless of the expiry date printed inside the document.??Passports issued before a certain date might not be valid for travel in much of Europe due to the EU’s ’10-year rule’.The post-Brexit change requires passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry.This means that the up to nine months of validity that was previously rolled over from an old document is no longer counted for travel to Europe and Schengen countries – including Spain.Even if the passport is not technically expired, it can be invalid for travel if it was issued more than 10 years ago.When returning from an EU or Schengen area country, travellers must also have at least three months remaining on their passports from the date they plan to travel home.Outside of the EU, the rules vary by country, so it is always worth visiting the GOV.UK website for specific entry requirements.2.??What do I need to travel to Spain from the UK?Spain’s a favourite holiday destination among Brits, so it’s little surprise it features in the top two questions.The first port of call should be passport validity. Then you’ll want to make sure you have travel insurance – the essentials.Beyond that, details of your flights, accommodation and any travel info is important – you may even want a hard copy.Beyond that, Spain can get exceptionally hot, so you’ll want to ensure you have sun protection.??3.??What should I pack for my holiday??? Many Brits get frazzled when packing for a holiday – but it’s easier than you thinkPacking can feel overwhelming, especially if travelling with limited luggage space and several events on holiday to cater for.It can help to divide your strategy into sections: personal admin, clothing, activity essentials, toiletries and any personal extras.Start with personal admin: the things you can’t go without. Phone and charger, laptop and charger (depending on the kind of trip), passport, wallet, bag – something for every day, be it a backpack or crossbody bag.Next up is clothes: ensure you cater to the temperatures you’ll be experiencing. Shoes are a big one – think comfy!After that, you’ll need different items depending on your activities of choice – books for pool lounging, activewear, a camera, hiking poles.Toiletries are next – all your day to day essentials plus items such as any regular medication you take, painkillers, Imodium, rehydration sachets and travel sickness bands or pills.Then add any personal essentials and, hey presto, you’re packed!??4.??How much medical cover do I need for travel insurance?This is something you don’t want to forget – there are too many horror stories of Brits falling ill abroad without travel insurance and being slapped with a hefty bill.??You’ll want more than just basic cover – and the key is to read the small print.Travel insurance experts have warned that holidaymakers could be left facing unpaid medical bills after taking part in everyday resort activities they assumed were covered.Norton Insurance Brokers says activities such as horse riding, jet skiing, quad biking, moped hire, scuba diving and even using a hotel gym can fall outside standard travel insurance cover, depending on the policy wording and the circumstances of the activity.It follows recent reports of a British woman who was left stranded in a Thailand hospital with a reported ??60,000 medical bill after a horse-riding accident, which was allegedly classed as high risk by her insurer.Experts say the issue is that many of these activities do not feel extreme to holidaymakers.??5. What does full board mean on holiday? There’s a difference between an all-inclusive stay and full board: you’ll want to know which you have bookedFull board is not the same as all-inclusive.??The former means??breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included – but not constant drinks and snacks.When booking a trip, ensure you are totally aware of what you’re getting, so you don’t get slapped with a hefty bill at the end.??6.??What is the safest way to travel???Flying is considered the safest mode of transportation, according to the Sheffield School of Aeronautics – and the stats back this up.??Airplane travel has an average annual injury rate of just 0.01 injuries per 100 million passenger miles.7.??What are the cheapest destinations in Europe? Sarajevo,??the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is this year’s cheapest European city breakAn in-depth travel report has revealed the city break destinations where tourists’ money will go furthest.The annual research looks at the cheapest – and most expensive – destinations, considering prices on everything from accommodation to food and drink.The resulting 2026 Post Office City Costs Barometer examined 50 cities, and found the cheapest metropolis, Sarajevo, a rising star in European travel, had an average holiday cost of just ??248.27.Bucharest, with an average holiday cost of ??258, is an unsurprising choice for second place.??Albanian capital Tirana has been placed among the cheapest European destinations a lot as of late – and??Belgrade, Serbia and??Tren??in, Slovakia round out the top five.8.??What are the best holiday destinations for kids?Planning a family holiday often means striking the perfect balance between pleasing the kids and ensuring adults are content too.But finding child-friendly destinations can be a challenge for parents, with 44 per cent relying on the same familiar locations each year due to a lack of inspiration or fear of it going wrong.A study from TUI???s family-friendly travel experts analysed more than 150 European coastal destinations to uncover the most family-friendly holiday spots.Lisbon, Portugal, ranks as Europe???s most child-friendly coastal city with a score of 9.16/10, standing out for its well-rounded offering across every category measured.??Naples, Italy, follows closely, while??Porto in Portugal offers a high density of hotels and attractions within a compact coastal setting, ranking third.9.??What are good girls trip destinations? Planning a girls trip? Look no further than MaltaA good girls trip relies on the following combination: good food, even better prices, an endless supply of cocktails and gorgeous beaches and pretty spots to soak up some rays.Greece, Spain, Portugal and coastlines elsewhere are foolproof destinations.However, earlier this year travel agents revealed??the best girls’ trip destination.Malta, with sunshine, spritzes and seriously good value, is the top spot for a girls’ trip according to the travel experts – and it’s just a three???hour flight from the UK.With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and 30C temperatures during summer, they say Malta is ideal for lazy beach days, sightseeing and uninterrupted girly time.10.??Which destinations are trending for holidays?There is emerging interest in destinations including Albania, Montenegro, Morocco and Rotterdam.??Albanian capital Tirana’s selling point is its underappreciated beauty, from Skanderbeg Square to underground art museums and the Great Mosque of Tirana or Namazgah Mosque, the largest mosque in the Balkans.Meanwhile, Montenegro is increasingly on the up, thanks to BA’s launch of two new short-haul additions to its route map, including Tivat.When it comes to Morocco, standout destinations include Tangier, Rabat and, of course, Marrakech.??
These are the 10 holiday questions Brits ask each summer – the travel desk has the answers
As Brits, we are creatures of habit: orderly queues, cups of tea at 4pm and an obsession with commenting on the state of the weather.It turns out, our habits extend to the questions we ask ahead of the summer holidays – research has shown the same 10 questions come up every year.AttractionTickets.com analysed travel-related Google search trends between 1 June and 31 August across 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to identify the travel questions and concerns that consistently surge during peak holiday planning season.The data shows practical travel worries are still dominating, with passport validity, Spain??entry rules, travel insurance and packing questions appearing repeatedly across the five-year dataset.??If any of these apply to you, there’s no need to fret.Here, the Daily Mail Travel Team has shared the answers to??the top 10 questions – so hopefully this will be the last year you’ll have to ask…1.??How long do I need on my passport to travel to Spain? Brits constantly have passport queries, ahead of all summer travelUnder post-Brexit travel rules, UK passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry into most EU countries, regardless of the expiry date printed inside the document.??Passports issued before a certain date might not be valid for travel in much of Europe due to the EU’s ’10-year rule’.The post-Brexit change requires passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry.This means that the up to nine months of validity that was previously rolled over from an old document is no longer counted for travel to Europe and Schengen countries – including Spain.Even if the passport is not technically expired, it can be invalid for travel if it was issued more than 10 years ago.When returning from an EU or Schengen area country, travellers must also have at least three months remaining on their passports from the date they plan to travel home.Outside of the EU, the rules vary by country, so it is always worth visiting the GOV.UK website for specific entry requirements.2.??What do I need to travel to Spain from the UK?Spain’s a favourite holiday destination among Brits, so it’s little surprise it features in the top two questions.The first port of call should be passport validity. Then you’ll want to make sure you have travel insurance – the essentials.Beyond that, details of your flights, accommodation and any travel info is important – you may even want a hard copy.Beyond that, Spain can get exceptionally hot, so you’ll want to ensure you have sun protection.??3.??What should I pack for my holiday??? Many Brits get frazzled when packing for a holiday – but it’s easier than you thinkPacking can feel overwhelming, especially if travelling with limited luggage space and several events on holiday to cater for.It can help to divide your strategy into sections: personal admin, clothing, activity essentials, toiletries and any personal extras.Start with personal admin: the things you can’t go without. Phone and charger, laptop and charger (depending on the kind of trip), passport, wallet, bag – something for every day, be it a backpack or crossbody bag.Next up is clothes: ensure you cater to the temperatures you’ll be experiencing. Shoes are a big one – think comfy!After that, you’ll need different items depending on your activities of choice – books for pool lounging, activewear, a camera, hiking poles.Toiletries are next – all your day to day essentials plus items such as any regular medication you take, painkillers, Imodium, rehydration sachets and travel sickness bands or pills.Then add any personal essentials and, hey presto, you’re packed!??4.??How much medical cover do I need for travel insurance?This is something you don’t want to forget – there are too many horror stories of Brits falling ill abroad without travel insurance and being slapped with a hefty bill.??You’ll want more than just basic cover – and the key is to read the small print.Travel insurance experts have warned that holidaymakers could be left facing unpaid medical bills after taking part in everyday resort activities they assumed were covered.Norton Insurance Brokers says activities such as horse riding, jet skiing, quad biking, moped hire, scuba diving and even using a hotel gym can fall outside standard travel insurance cover, depending on the policy wording and the circumstances of the activity.It follows recent reports of a British woman who was left stranded in a Thailand hospital with a reported ??60,000 medical bill after a horse-riding accident, which was allegedly classed as high risk by her insurer.Experts say the issue is that many of these activities do not feel extreme to holidaymakers.??5. What does full board mean on holiday? There’s a difference between an all-inclusive stay and full board: you’ll want to know which you have bookedFull board is not the same as all-inclusive.??The former means??breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included – but not constant drinks and snacks.When booking a trip, ensure you are totally aware of what you’re getting, so you don’t get slapped with a hefty bill at the end.??6.??What is the safest way to travel???Flying is considered the safest mode of transportation, according to the Sheffield School of Aeronautics – and the stats back this up.??Airplane travel has an average annual injury rate of just 0.01 injuries per 100 million passenger miles.7.??What are the cheapest destinations in Europe? Sarajevo,??the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is this year’s cheapest European city breakAn in-depth travel report has revealed the city break destinations where tourists’ money will go furthest.The annual research looks at the cheapest – and most expensive – destinations, considering prices on everything from accommodation to food and drink.The resulting 2026 Post Office City Costs Barometer examined 50 cities, and found the cheapest metropolis, Sarajevo, a rising star in European travel, had an average holiday cost of just ??248.27.Bucharest, with an average holiday cost of ??258, is an unsurprising choice for second place.??Albanian capital Tirana has been placed among the cheapest European destinations a lot as of late – and??Belgrade, Serbia and??Tren??in, Slovakia round out the top five.8.??What are the best holiday destinations for kids?Planning a family holiday often means striking the perfect balance between pleasing the kids and ensuring adults are content too.But finding child-friendly destinations can be a challenge for parents, with 44 per cent relying on the same familiar locations each year due to a lack of inspiration or fear of it going wrong.A study from TUI???s family-friendly travel experts analysed more than 150 European coastal destinations to uncover the most family-friendly holiday spots.Lisbon, Portugal, ranks as Europe???s most child-friendly coastal city with a score of 9.16/10, standing out for its well-rounded offering across every category measured.??Naples, Italy, follows closely, while??Porto in Portugal offers a high density of hotels and attractions within a compact coastal setting, ranking third.9.??What are good girls trip destinations? Planning a girls trip? Look no further than MaltaA good girls trip relies on the following combination: good food, even better prices, an endless supply of cocktails and gorgeous beaches and pretty spots to soak up some rays.Greece, Spain, Portugal and coastlines elsewhere are foolproof destinations.However, earlier this year travel agents revealed??the best girls’ trip destination.Malta, with sunshine, spritzes and seriously good value, is the top spot for a girls’ trip according to the travel experts – and it’s just a three???hour flight from the UK.With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and 30C temperatures during summer, they say Malta is ideal for lazy beach days, sightseeing and uninterrupted girly time.10.??Which destinations are trending for holidays?There is emerging interest in destinations including Albania, Montenegro, Morocco and Rotterdam.??Albanian capital Tirana’s selling point is its underappreciated beauty, from Skanderbeg Square to underground art museums and the Great Mosque of Tirana or Namazgah Mosque, the largest mosque in the Balkans.Meanwhile, Montenegro is increasingly on the up, thanks to BA’s launch of two new short-haul additions to its route map, including Tivat.When it comes to Morocco, standout destinations include Tangier, Rabat and, of course, Marrakech.??